WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on today’s vote on S. 311, Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. 

This legislation would protect infants born alive following attempted abortions by requiring that they be transported to a hospital and provided the same level of care as any other child born at the same gestational age.

Graham is one of fifty cosponsors of this legislation.

“I will proudly cast my vote in support of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act sponsored by Senator Sasse.

“This is a strong statement in support of life, and I am hopeful that even the Democratic House will see this as a worthwhile, necessary piece of legislation.

“I know President Trump will sign this legislation if Congress gets it to his desk.”

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BACKGROUND BILL SUMMARY:

• Health care practitioners must exercise the same degree of skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of an infant who is born-alive after an attempted abortion as would be offered to any other child born at the same gestational age.
• After those efforts, the health care practitioners must ensure that the child be transported and admitted to a hospital.
• Health care practitioners and hospital employees must report violations to law enforcement.
• If a health care practitioner intentionally performs an overt act that kills a born-alive infant who survives an abortion, it is punishable like any other act of murder under federal law. Other violations of the Act are punishable through fines or up to five years imprisonment.
• The mother of the abortion survivor is granted a civil cause of action and exemption from prosecution if the abortionist kills or neglects her born-alive child.